Accelerated Development Applications

The service will apply to DAs for:

• Single and Two Storey Dwellings 
• Single and Two Storey Dwellings Alterations/Additions
• Secondary Dwellings (less than 60m2)
• Ancillary Residential, including: Carports, Garages, Sheds, Detached Studios, Swimming Pools, Retaining Walls, & Decks / Patios.
• Farm Buildings less than 200m² containing sanitary facilities (shower, toilet and hand basin) 
• Demolition.

Not all the above types of development will be able to be considered as Accelerated DAs as the site constraints also need to be considered. Please see the next section to view the checklists and the criteria to qualify. 

Note: For ancillary residential development you may not need a DA if your development is exempt, see Do I need development approval? 

To see if you qualify for this service, please see the applicable checklist below to see if your development meets all the criteria.

• Accelerated DA Process Checklist - Residential and Ancillary Development(PDF, 179KB)
• Accelerated DA Process Checklist - Demolition(PDF, 30KB)

The checklists are designed so that if you answer ‘No’ to all the questions, your development qualifies for the Accelerated DA process. If you answer ‘Yes’ to any question your development will not qualify for this service and can be assessed under normal DA processes.

To request this service, all you need to do is upload the completed Accelerate DA checklist with your DA documents when lodging your DA on the Planning Portal. 

See Council’s step-by-step guide to the DA Process for more information.

To be able to complete the checklist, you will need to know details about your property and Council’s Development Standards and Controls. Information can be found at the following links:

• View the Clarence Valley Local Environmental Plan 2011 (LEP) and Council’s Development Control Plans (DCP).
• For site constraints see Council’s online planning map.
• For the location of Council’s infrastructure see the asset mapping layer on Council’s online maps.
• For the location of easements or restrictions on the lot view the title search, Deposited Plan (DP) and s88B Instruments for a property. These documents form part of the contract of sale of a property or obtain new copies - see NSW Land Registry Services.
• To identify any known significant Aboriginal sites or object undertake an AHIMS search.

If you are unsure if a constraint applies, or have any questions, advice can be sought from Council staff see We're here to help on planning matters.

Council is expanding the Accelerated Application process to include some types of CC Applications. To qualify your application must be:

• a CC Application for a DA that was an Accelerated DA;
• compliant with the National Construction Code (NCC) and is to include Engineers details and specifications to demonstrate full NCC compliance and not seek any performance solutions; and
• consistent with the approved plans and satisfy all conditions of the approved DA.

If your DA was approved as an Accelerated DA, the CC Application will automatically be processed as Accelerated and Council staff will aim to determine your application within 10 days of being lodged. So, there is no need to complete any extra forms or checklists for this process.

This means the combined Accelerated DA and CC process will take a total of 30 days to determine.

If the preliminary assessment of the application determines that the above criteria isn’t achieved, your CC will be taken out of the Accelerated process and assessed in standard timeframes.

See Council’s step-by-step guide to the DA Process for more information.

Council will consider some types of minor MOD Applications as Accelerated and this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Council has updated its Modification Lodgement Checklist form, which requires you to consult Council staff prior to lodging your application, including to confirm if the application can be Accelerated.

If your application qualifies for this process, Council staff will aim to determine your application within 20 days from when the MOD Application has been lodged.

See Council’s step-by-step guide to the DA Process for more information.

If your SubCt Application is for an exempt subdivision (e.g. a minor boundary adjustment) and a DA is not required for the proposal, your application will automatically be processed as Accelerated and Council staff will aim to determine your application within 10 days of being lodged.

Council has updated its Subdivision Certificate Checklist form, which requires you to confirm your application is an exempt subdivision development. As part of the application process, you will need to demonstrate compliance with the exempt criteria.

See Council’s step-by-step guide to the DA Process for more information.

Each site is unique, and the checklists cannot cover every type of constraint or feature. Even if your application qualifies for the Accelerated DA process, there is no guarantee your application will be determined as an Accelerated DA. There are several reasons why a DA may be taken out of the Accelerated DA process. Examples include, but or not limited to: if the Accelerated DA Checklist is not completed correctly or misrepresents the proposed development; if a site or environmental constraint requires more time to assess the development; the DA may require notifying to neighbours; the DA requires additional information to assess. If for any reason your DA is taken out of the Accelerated DA process, you will be notified as such, and your DA will then continue to be assessed under normal DA processes.

By completing and lodging the Accelerated DA Checklists, you are acknowledging that all the information provided by you is correct. Checklists that are incorrectly completed will result in the DA being cancelled from the Accelerated DA process. 

Q. Are there any additional fees applicable to the Accelerated DA process?

A. No, there are no additional costs for the service.

Q. How are the 20 days calculated?

A. The 20 days are calendar days. DA days for an application starts when you have been notified by the Planning Portal that the DA has been accepted for assessment and lodged into Council’s system, and not from when you upload the DA and supporting documents on to the Planning Portal. Lodgement of the DA occurs after you pay the applicable application fees.

Q. Am I guaranteed approval within 20 days?

A. The target timeframe of 20 days to assess an Accelerated DA is not a statutory timeframe, however Council staff will endeavour to determine DAs within the target timeframes for this free service. If there are any minor delays, you will be notified of the reason, e.g., the site is remote and more time is needed to undertake a site inspection.

Q. What if my development doesn’t meet the Accelerated DA criteria?

A. If your development does not qualify for the Accelerated DA process, your DA will be assessed as a normal DA. You can view our DA timeframes at How we’re performing, with simple DAs having a median assessment time between 35-55 days. More complicated DAs take longer to determine.   

Q. What happens if my DA is taken out of the Accelerated DA process?

A. There are a number of reasons why a DA may not be able to be assessed as an Accelerated DA, even if all the criteria on the checklist are met (see above details under disclaimer). If more time is needed to assess the DA, you will be notified that your application will be taken out of the Accelerated DA process and assessed as a normal DA.

Q. I have more questions, who can I talk to?

A. If you have more questions about the Accelerated DA process, you can contact Sarah Sozou (Council’s Development Planner) or Council’s Duty Building Surveyor on 6643 0200 between 8.30am – 11am Monday to Friday.